(a) deplores
comments made in the New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday, 17 September
2002, by the State Minister for Education and Training (Mr Watkins),
which misrepresented the future direction of universities in Australia
and, in particular, the role of rural and regional universities;

(b) notes
that the Minister for Education, Science and Training (Dr Nelson) has
put on the record that regional universities will not be disadvantaged
by the current reform process;

(c) further
notes that the Federal Minister told all state education ministers,
including Mr Watkins, in July 2002 that Australia would not be returning
to second tier, teaching-only, higher education institutions; and

(d) congratulates
the Federal Minister for his comprehensive and inclusive review of higher
education in Australia.